Jamal Robinson, a 40-year-old former tech professional, has redefined financial success by achieving early retirement—a dream many aspire to but few accomplish. His disciplined approach toward saving and investments allowed him to save well over $3.5 million (around Rs 30 crore), which ultimately made it easy for him to leave the corporate world at only 39 years of age. Today, sitting in Dubai, Robinson's own journey from minimal wage jobs and into financial independence offers valuable learning about wealth-building and long-term planning.
At what age had Robinson set a retirement goal?
It was during his teenage years that Robinson had a vision for early retirement. At 17, he had already determined that he wanted to retire at 45. Witnessing a widespread dissatisfaction with traditional work environments, he made up his mind to compress his working years into a shorter time frame.
“In my mind, I always thought that it made the most sense to compress that amount of time in my life,” Robinson shared in an interview with CNBC Make It.
Amazingly, through painstaking saving and investment, he attained his goal six years ahead of schedule.
Robinson grew up in a small house but was always driven to work hard and become financially independent. From the age of 14, he did all sorts of jobs, from janitor work in a church to working full-time while studying computer engineering at Tennessee Tech University.
Starting in the energy sector, Robinson later moved into software development, where his skills and work ethic earned him positions at industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, and Intel. As his income increased-from an initial $41,000 per year to over $1 million annually remained focused on his financial goal rather than lifestyle inflation.
The art of extreme saving
Despite earning a substantial salary, Robinson maintained an aggressive savings strategy. He gradually increased his savings rate from 30% to 50%, then to 80%, eventually reaching nearly 90%.
"I went from saving 30 percent to 50 percent to 80 percent and up to nearly 90 percent," he explained.
Rather than indulging in luxury purchases, he found excitement in maximizing his savings, knowing that it would accelerate his financial independence.
“That would excite me more because I knew that that accelerated my goal to ultimately retire,” Robinson said.
Retirement at 39
In 2024, at the age of 39, Robinson made a bold move by retiring as a tech leader in generative AI, at the peak of his career. It was surprising for many since many opportunities in AI were waiting for him, which would have enabled him to continue earning over $1 million a year.
"A lot of people think that I'm crazy to leave AI at a time where it's so important," he remarked. "But for me, it was always important to focus on my goal of retiring so I could focus on myself [and] make sure that I'm doing things to make the world a better place."
Robinson structured his finances by following the widely recognized 4% rule for retirement. This allowed him to withdraw safely from his $3.5 million portfolio. He was able to opt for a slightly higher withdrawal rate at around 5%, thus providing him with an annual income of some approximately $185,000—not enough for the support of a lifestyle he was accustomed to.
Smart spending and tax benefits
Currently, Robinson is living in Dubai, which has very luxurious lifestyle and taxation policies. He does not pay local income taxes and makes the most of his profits, as a U.S. citizen, he still pays taxes on his investment withdrawals.
Despite his wealth, Robinson maintains a disciplined approach to spending. He budgets between $9,000 and $12,000 per month—well within his annual allowance. His expenses include housing, wellness activities, high-quality food, and entertainment.
He prioritizes health and fitness, frequently visiting the gym and indulging in wellness treatments like massages. His food budget is another non-negotiable area, influenced by his past experiences.
"When I was in college, I used to go to Wendy's all the time," he recalled. "I told myself, after I graduate, after I get money, I want to be in a position where I'm not having to cheap out on food."
Even with millions in the bank, Robinson still sees himself as the young man working minimum wage. This mentality has helped him stay financially disciplined despite his wealth.
"I still, even to this day, view myself as this minimum wage guy making $5.15 an hour," he admitted.